INTERWAR PERIOD SOL WHII 11 Pessimism after WWI

INTERWAR PERIOD SOL WHII. 11

Pessimism after WWI � � � Traumatic for soldiers; negative feeling or pessimism People living in fear As a result, the cultural flourishments following WWI reflected the pessimism and the need to be different

Literature � � The Decline of the West; Remembrance of things Past; A Farewell to Arms The Trial –an innocent man on trial facing a horrible punishment and he can’t prove his innocence The Magic Mountain—the setting is in a tuberculosis sanitarium—everyone is dying Surrealism—life is portrayed as if it is a dream (escape from reality)

Poetry � � T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land—negative title Break from tradition—experimentation with capitalization, punctuation, free verse and design of the poem

Music � � Breaks from tradition—Big Bands, Harmony introduced, 12 tone scale (flats and sharps) and jazz are all introduced Pessimism—The Blues!!

Painting Breaks from tradition— new styles—surrealism and cubism (Pablo Picasso)

Film � Pessimism—comedies offered escape from reality, but many plots were disturbing and cruel

Architecture � Breaks from tradition—new style functionalism —need to feel useful. More use of steel to feel safe and secure

Things to think about!! � � When was the last major war for Europe? Costs of the war—how many people affected? Memories of war? —trench warfare, trench rot etc. . Purpose of the war? Was there one? Was anything accomplished?

Roaring Twenties � � � 1920’s=positive change War-time economy to peace-time economy— things returning to “normal” Automobile Industry—had profound effect on life in 1920’s---expanded business and industry —people went back to work

Roaring Twenties cont… � � � Life was happy again Economy was booming Women upset they were to go back to the home; some women rebelled—Flappers Cut their hair into bobs, smoked, drank, cursed, and wore bright lipstick Danced in public and wore revealing clothes

Flappers!!!

Prohibition � � Gov’t blamed immoral behavior on the influence of alcohol Passed a law about forbidding the manufacture, sale and transport of alcohol— known as Prohibition Public responded by making their own alcohol, bootlegging, creating speakeasies, and bribing public officials Law was quickly repealed

Prohibition!!

1920’s � � � � Good Times Economic Prosperity Investment in Stocks Late 1920’s increase in cost of living Wages remained the same Companies increased their prices Lowered demand—lay offs!!!

1920’s cont… � � People wondered if they could support their family Made risky investments to make a lot of money —on-margin investments Eventually, too many people investing causes stock prices to drop Everyone was selling at the same time, but no one was buying

Black Tuesday � � � Price eventually hit rock bottom and the crash occurred on October 29, 1929 Complete shutdown—The Great Depression People turn to gov’t Gov’t=laissez-faire Hoover did not know what to do—raised tariffs on foreign goods—made it worse! The Great Depression became a worldwide problem

New Deal � � FDR was elected in Nov. 1932 Created a plan called the New Deal Series of plans to help the suffering public Several plans: CCC, TVA, FDIC, Social Security Act

Postwar Problems in Europe � Planned Economy: gov’t temporarily regulates the direction of national resources

Postwar Problems in Europe cont… � � FRANCE: economy suffered greatly after war; increased debt to repair country Paying interest on debt Cost of national security Middle class/working class expected to help the most, but could not afford the higher prices

France cont… � � � French afraid of another German invasion Rebuilt army and navy Constructed Maginot Line: large concrete and steel fortification along their border 1930’s=France’s alliances started to crumble France wanted to ensure protection from Germany, but all of the major countries pulled out or were very vague about their commitments

France cont… � � Riots over a gov’t scandal caused workers to go on a general strike —where various industries refused to work Results: Popular Front—new coalition gov’t (Short Lived) many work related reforms Gov’t nationalized some of the major industries Popular Front ended workers lost many reforms and suffered—public was divided; when WWII came there would be a portion of France that will ally w/Hitler

Great Britain � � High taxes—war debt (middle class) Factories outdated and run down High unemployment rates—caused labor unrest General strike—crippled gov’t and eventually were illegal

Ireland � � During WWI, Irish nationalists revolted w/the Easter Rebellion— 1916 Germany had conspired w/nationalists, but failed to send support British put rebellion down IRA continued to engage in violent attacks against British troops

Ireland cont… � � 1921 -British gave in and divided Ireland Southern Ireland became Irish Free State in 1922—self-governing, but not completely independent 6 counties of Northern Ireland chose to remain part of the U. K. 1949 Southern Ireland became completely independent—Republic of Ireland

Eastern Europe � � � Newly created countries lagged behind rest of Europe Most of the land controlled by few aristocrats Major economic activity still agriculture After WWI, land redistributed to peasants, but they had not money Democracy was a struggle in new nations!

Austria � � � Most people wanted Anschluss- German for union- with Germany, but peace treaties and allies would not allow it 1/3 of population lived in Vienna Struggle btwn socialists and conservatives which weakened democratic progress

Hungary � � Republic created after WWI was overthrown w/in a year by a Communist, but aristocrats overthrew the communist Then an admiral took over Hungary was landlocked, so what was an admiral doing? “Hungary was a kingdom without a king, and was ruled by an admiral without a fleet. ” Hapsburgs even tried to restore the monarchy, but allies would not allow it

Poland � � Immediately after WWI, a democratic constitution was created—but divided political parties kept the gov’t from operating efficiently Eventually military dictatorship took over

Four Factors which enabled Hitler and Mussolini to come to power: � � Big Daddy Syndrome Ability to convince people Nationalism Economic depression

The Rise of Fascism in Italy � Benito Mussolini � Offered stability and hope � Born son of a blacksmith � Became an elementary school teacher � Fought in WWI � Began fascist party

Mussolini � � Fascism: dictatorship which glorified war and promoted nationalism; is the dictatorship of a state with all classes cooperating (appealed to middle and working classes) Created a totalitarian regime—highly centralized gov’t which allowed no opposition and held total control

Mussolini � � Fascists adopted the black shirt as their uniform The Black Shirts put pressure on the gov’t and Mussolini gained the title of premier This is where the dictatorship began Called himself “il Duce” -- the leader

Under Mussolini � � � NO opposition, censorship, no freedom of speech, press, no trial by jury and a secret police was created Italy became a corporate state Militarism—increasing the army and navy—put people back to work and prepared them for mobilization

Weimar Republic � � � After WWI, a constitution was created in German city of Weimar— Weimar Republic 2 house legislature—Reichsrat and Reichstag There was a president and a chancellor People not supportive—representatives were the ones who signed the Treaty of Versailles Terrible economic and social problems— 2 attempted revolutions

Weimar Republic cont… � � Political parties grew—National Socialist German Worker’s Party—Nazi Party Goal was to stop communism—it attracted mostly wealthy business owners and landowners—one recruit was Hitler

Hitler � � � � Born in Austria 1889 Wanted to be an artist in Vienna—failed In Vienna he became resentful of Jews because of their success Served in WWI Joined the Nazi Party Arrested for Beerhall Putsch (Nazi uprising) in 1923—sent to prison Wrote Mein Kampf while in prison—blueprint for Nazi Germany

Hitler cont…

Hitler cont… � � After release from prison—became leader of Nazi Party People identified w/his feelings of hatred and rejection Appealed to every group in society Plan to create an Aryan race—master race

Hitler’s Rise to Power!!! � � � Took the title of “der Fuhrer”—the leader Turned Germany into a police state NO opposition, labor unions, there was censorship, used a secret police called the Gestapo

Hitler’s Persecution � Started persecuting and imprisoning groups such as � Political opponents � Inferior races Jews were targeted most Persecuted and tortured Forced into segregated communities—ghettos Forced to wear yellow star of David on clothing

Hitler cont… � � Third Reich—empire—the third major empire and third period of economic prosperity for Germany’s racial supremacy justified taking land away from the Slavs to expand German borders to handle the growing population

Germany � � � Secretly rearming since the 1920’s Hitler ready to openly defy the treaty if challenged Spring of 1936, Hitler sent an army into the Rhineland France responded by sending a note Hitler made alliances w/Mussolini in the fall of 1936—Rome-Berlin Axis

Russia/USSR � � Lenin—leader of communists 1919 Com intern- encourage communism around the world 1922 U. S. S. R. Economic Policy—NEP (major industry) � Collective farming � Some Free Enterprise

USSR Trotsky Created Red Army Encouraged Revolution Everywhere

Stalin � Leader of Communist Party � Communism succeeded and spread in USSR � Command economy � 5 year plan

Stalin 5 year plan agriculture production to buy machinery industrial revolution no everyday goods (toilet paper) Lead to dictatorship and purge